Honthorst, Gerard

Honthorst, Gerard (called Gherardo dalle Notti), anl eminent Dutch painter, was born at Utrecht in 1592. After studying under Abraham Bloemaert he visited Rome, and applied himself to the study of the works of Michael Angelo Caravaggio. He was patronized by prince Giustiniani, for whom he painted some of his best works, among which are two flue pictures of St. Peter Delivered Joom Prison, and Christ before Pilate. There is a torch-light scene by Holthorst, in the Church of the Madonna della Scala, at Rome, representing the Beheading of St. John. He died in 1660. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.; Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.